Amazon

Amazon (Amazon.com, Inc.) is an online trading company that was founded in July 1995 by its CEO, Jeff Bezos. The website started as an online bookstore but quickly became the world's largest online "anything store". Besides offering millions of books, music, and DVD's, it also sells electronics, clothing, prescription drugs, and auto parts. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. In May 1997 the company was floated on the stock exchange. (Its Nasdaq symbol is AMZN.)

CEO Jeff Bezos is listed in Forbes as having a personal fortune of US$5.1 billion.

Top competitors are Barnes & Noble, Columbia House, and eBay.

Political contributions
Amazon gave $88,500 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 54% to Democrats and 46% to Republicans.

Lobbying
The company spent $735,000 for lobbying in the first half of 2007. Two lobbying firms were used - Bockorny Group and DLA Piper.

People

 * Jeffrey Bezos - Chairman of the Board, President, CEO & Founder
 * Jeffrey Blackburn - SVP, Business Development
 * Richard Dalzell - SVP and CIO
 * Andrew Jassy - SVP Web Services
 * Steven Kessel - SVP Worldwide Digital Media
 * Marc Onetto - SVP, Worldwide Operations
 * Mark Peek - SVP and CAO
 * Diego Piacentini - SVP, International Retail
 * Thomas Szkutak - SVP and CFO
 * H. Brian Valentine - SVP, Ecommerce Platform
 * Jeffrey Wilke - SVP, North America Retail
 * L. Michelle Wilson - SVP, General Counsel, Secretary
 * Tom Alberg - Managing Director, Madrona Ventures Group
 * John Seely Brown - Board Member
 * L. John Doerr - General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufiled and
 * William B. Gordon - Board Member
 * Myrtle S. Potter - CEO Chapman Properties
 * Thomas O. Ryder - Board Member
 * Patricia Q. Stonesifer - CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Contact details
1200 12th Avenue South Suite 1200 Seattle, WA 98144 Phone: 206-266-1000 Web: http://www.amazon.com